Projects 32 5W Build - The $4K Swapmeet Body / The Old Chrome Coupe

Still shaking my head on that one Neil, one of those things that has to be seen in the flesh and finish to believe it's possible.

 

Took a couple of sessions but I made it through all 16 pages and wow, that car is coming along nicely. It's going to be the benchmark of staying on theme when it is done for sure.

 

I am looking for a specific air filter base to complete a set for the 5w.

It needs to be an "oil bath" style like these, 2-5/8 97/94 neck size and 3-1/8" tall. These use a Wittek band clamp, rather than a set screw.
Anyone holding? I'd be interested in just a base, or an entire air cleaner assembly.





And a random shop pic because I thought it was cool

 

I am getting the car ready to go back to Josh @carrillocustoms for another round of metal work, so I pulled the chrome suspension parts out and put some roller axles under the car. That way I can get the rest of the parts plated and final assembled with brakes, etc while he has the rest of the car.


In doing that, I was reminded that I needed to make deeper rear u-bolt bars, so I cut some 1x2 bar stock and welded onto some original Ford bars.





I prepped them for plating and gathered up a few more parts to send off

 

Basically plating everything except sheetmetal and the seat springs?

 

I have no other choice...

 

I was swapping out firewalls for a nicer one, then remembered I needed to put frame welting on before we do final body panel fitting. So off came the body, then might as well fix a few things on the K-member that needed fixing. This frame was an early 4 cylinder frame that did not have holes punched for V8 chatter rods in the K-member. Someone had torched holes to install them when they put a V8 in it. I cleaned them up, welded up some crooked holes, etc. I am also using Early V8 garage battery box an M/C bracket. Not all the holes were in the same location as a later K-member, so had to weld a few up and redrill to match Dennis's brackets.

Then figured I should DA the whole frame as it had rusty fingerprints all over it. Now I've got parts spread everywhere. There are a few more things to finish ip on the frame, then the body can go back on for final panel fitment.

 

WOW! Was that a near perfect frame to start with?

 

Perfect.

 

I wouldn't go that far, but it was a decent frame that had never been hacked up. It had an 8ba, 39 trans and juice brakes, but everything else was still 32. It still had quite a few extra holes here and there, plus a few cracks and dents to repair.


Now the frame under my black Fordor, I'd call that one near perfect. Still original black paint on the K-member.

 

Nice job Neal !! I'm on vacation and finally have time to check out your build and others. The 5 window will be killer. Can't wait to see it done.
Thanks for sharing the build.

 

Wow, love your work, methodical & thorough!

 

Absolute perfection as always, Neal. A pleasure to see it.

 

My brother Paul had to move out of his old shop and needed a place to store his long term RPU project. We stashed it up on my mezzanine, and it's been there for the last 3 years. He's been itching to work on it again and has some shop space now, so he and my other brother Mark got it down on Saturday. My trusty 1957 Towmotor forklift sure comes in handy for stuff like this...and it's period correct...haha






I had to clean the shop to get his truck down, so here are some uncharacteristic clean floors


And I gathered up the polished aluminum for the 5w to take and have clear Cerakoted

 

I always loved seeing that chassis up there in the background of other photos. Maybe you need to build another chassis to replace that one up high!

 

Oh, there are plans. I have enough left over pieces to put together a complete stock 32 chassis with engine, bumpers, spare tire, etc. I also have a parts pile to build a 27 T body/28 Chevy frame 3-springer project that could go up there. But I need to get the 5w on the road before playing around with a display project like that.

 

The 1957 Towmotor even has some spectacular patina! 60 Special

 

I have a 27 T 3-springer project up high on top of the shelves in my shop too.

 

I had my friend Joe rivet the front crossmember in. I had grafted a SoCal 1" drop crossmember to a 32 rear section, but just had it bolted in place. I have done some hot riveting on a couple of 32 frames, but Joe has done a lot more of them, so figured I'd just keep building steering boxes and let him do what he does best.

And as you might remember the last time I tried to unload this frame by myself...it didn't go so smooth. I spent a few minutes on some rigging, and no mishaps this time.

 

Funny you mention a 3 springer, I happen to have a pile of bits for one of them too!

The progress is great! I enjoy this project move forward, especially with all your details & determination to keep tightly to the theme.

 

Saw these today, for the chrome everything crowd.

 

Simply incredible. Love everything about this build.

 

Not a lot of progress this weekend, but did get the passenger side of the body stripped and prepped a few more small parts for plating.



I had bought the engine and trans out of Dan Webb's old 3W. Knowing how clean the frame and K-member were in that car, I figured the trans rear mount would be a good candidate for plating. I was not disappointed after pulling it off the transmission.

 

Frame off to the chrome shop now?

 

I had originally intended to plate the front and rear crossmembers, but then to get the stance I wanted I had to flatten both crossmembers. That lead to notching the frame for spring clearance, which doesn't allow the crossmembers to come out of the frame. We had to re-rivet them in place, so I guess I will have to chrome the whole frame...haha...no.

 

I'll bet you don't have to steer the pickup on the way to the chrome shop?

 

It's worse than that. The chrome shop owner comes to my place to pick up and deliver now...

 

The shop owner is chrome?

 

Plating parts you will barely see is an absolute sickness and I love it!

 

hahaha great comment!